06/11/2026
I try not to panic when I see caterpillars anymore 🐛 A few things I check before removing them:
🦋 Monarch caterpillars need milkweed, so I leave those alone.
🌿 Black swallowtail caterpillars often show up on dill, parsley, or fennel, and I usually let them stay.
🍅 Tomato hornworms can strip plants fast, so I move them if they’re doing too much damage.
🥬 Cabbage loopers are a different story because they can chew brassicas quickly.
👀 Identification matters because some caterpillars turn into beautiful pollinators, while others can wreck a crop.
A few chewed leaves are not always a disaster, but knowing who is doing the chewing helps a lot.
